Internal

„The club has big plans“

Kevin Kuranyi dared a big step by moving from the Bundesliga to Moscow, Russia, where he´s scoring his goals for Dinamo now. With Marius Klatt he talks about the Russian football his leaving of Schalke 04 and about rumours that on Moscow´s streets Kalashnikovs are business as usual.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Strasdvudje Mister Kuranyi, What is life like in Moscow?

Kevin Kuranyi: It´s a quite big and beautiful city and actually really safe. You can move around freely and you don´t have to afraid – against some adventurous rumours – to walk into people with kalashnikov´s in their hands. The people are alright and I´m feeling well here.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: You moved from the German Bundesliga to the Russian league. Do you consider yourself a pioneer whom many will follow in the near future, or do you think you will stay exotic as a German in Russia?

Kevin Kuranyi: I believe it is possible, that many will follow soon, since the league has become more competitive and attractive in recent times. I think at first many players are afraid of taking such a big step, but I can take that fear away. Everything is the same and really good football is being played here.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: And you can earn a lot of money....

Kevin Kuranyi: Of course, there is also a lot of money to be earned here, but you have also to accept the mentality and you have to come here willing to work hard. You can´t just come here and think everything is going to be very easy now. You have to prove yourself in every training.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: The season in Russia is already over. When you came here, Dinamo wasn´t on an international spot and that hasn´t changed since. How disappointed are you not to have reached the qualification for the Europa League let alone the Champions League?

Kevin Kuranyi: First of all I have to say, that we have progressed already. When I got here we were 12th in the league. Now we have finished 7th. Since I´m here we haven´t lost any match against one of the big teams. We have played good games and developed quite well.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Nevertheless it wasn´t enough for an international spot...

Kevin Kuranyi: Yes, we have made mistakes as well of course. We have lost too many points against the smaller teams. We have to improve in that respect. But we still have the chance to get into the Europa League by winning the national cup. But overall it´s true, that it´s disappointing not to have achieved this through the league. Transfermarkt.co.uk: What do you believe is possible for Dinamo next season?

Kevin Kuranyi: I think a lot is possible if what I have been told here will be realized. The club has big plans and part of this plan is to sign more quality next season, maybe 2 or 3 top-players. If that will be achieved we want to come in at least 5th next season. Transfermarkt.co.uk: In 8 years of Bundesliga football you have always scored at least ten goals. In Russia you have scored nine times in this short period. Does it bother you not to have reached double figures this time?

Kevin Kuranyi: (laughing) That´s right, I always scored at least ten goals in the Bundesliga. But I always had a full season to do so, now it was only half a season....

Transfermarkt.co.uk: But still you only missed it by one goal.

Kevin Kuranyi: Yes. I think I scored my goals and the club, the supporters and I are happy with the result. But for me it has always been more important to be succesful with the club than to score individual goals.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: The domestic league and cup won´t start until mid-march. What are you going to do in all this time?

Kevin Kuranyi: (laughing) I´m going on a nice holiday! I will head to the sun and hopefully relax and recover well, in order to be able to take off full throttle next season. But seriously: The break is a bit longer than I´m used to, but training will already resume in early January here.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Are you happy to be able to avoid the Russian winter that way?

Kevin Kuranyi: So far it hasn´t really been that cold...

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Well, it´s only just starting now.

Kevin Kuranyi: Right. And thank god I won´t be here! (laughs)

Transfermarkt.co.uk: How do you compare the strength of the Russian league to the Bundesliga?

Kevin Kuranyi: You can´t really compare them. A top-team from Russia can beat a German top-team, but can also lose against them. Overall the Russian league isn´t on the level of the Bundesliga but the top-teams are doing well. This was displayed by two different Russian clubs winning the UEFA-Cup in recent years.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: You have established yourself immediately in a new league. Why does the Russian league suite you so well?

Kevin Kuranyi: You have to be open for new things. And try to adapt quickly. Well, and you have to start working hard from day one, train well and show that you are willing to give everything for the club.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Do you remember matchday 19?

Kevin Kuranyi: Did something special happen then?

Transfermarkt.co.uk: You travelled to the farthest away club in the league to Tomsk. That´s almost 3000 kilometers worth travelling. How did that feel?

Kevin Kuranyi: Well, that´s not really a big difference for us. We are travelling by plane so it´s not really that long a trip. And Tomsk isn´t any different to other clubs. They´ve got a normal stadium and they´re also just playing football. When I went to Spain with Schalke in the Champions Leauge it wasn´t any different.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Dinamo Manager Miodrag Bozovic only worked in Russia and Serbia-Montenegro so far and isn´t really well known internationally. What did you know about him when you decided to move to Dinamo?

Kevin Kuranyi: To be honest, not a lot. I met him only when arrived in Moscow.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: And now what can you tell us about him?

Kevin Kuranyi: We got along instantly, because, like me, he too is very focused on success. He´s hard-working and can form a team. He´s a very modern manager, knows how to treat players and earned his respect amongst the team..

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Why did you choose Dinamo Moscow in the first place?

Kevin Kuranyi: That had different reasons. One aspect, I admit honestly, was the finances. But what you´ve also got to see is, that at Dinamo we have conditions only a few clubs in Europe have to offer. And there is a lot of potential growing here.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: We have already talked about your double figures in 8 consecutive seasons in Germany. But even though you never gained a really good standing in Germany. Do you think your efforts haven´t been appreciated enough in Germany?

Kevin Kuranyi: I wouldn´t generally say that. Especially in my last season at Schalke I felt highly appreciated by the fans. And prior to the World Cup a lot of people have encouraged my selection for the Germany squad, Franz Beckenbauer amongst them. But I think, I have always paid back the trust in my person. I have been capped 50 times and almost scored 20 goals for the national team. And I reached top-scorer merits for 8 consecutive season at all my clubs.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Recently you have again advertised yourself for the national team, but again to no avail. Did the exclusion from the national team make it easier for you to decide for a move to Russia, where you won´t be in the spotlight as much as it had been the case in Germany?

Kevin Kuranyi: I have only advertised myself by scoring goals, not by demanding anything. Of course the hopeless situation influenced my decision. For many years I delivered good results in the national team and hoped to get another chance through my efforts at my club. But that´s a topic you shouldn´t stretch people´s nerves with. I´m scoring goals and would love to come back – that´s all I have to say about this.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Do you still follow the Bundesliga, especially your former club Schalke 04?

Kevin Kuranyi: I still try to watch every Schalke match, but also every match of VfB Stuttgart. It´s a pity that both clubs are at the bottom of the table. I was happy to see Schalke do well against Bremen and Lyon. The supporters earned that. I´m confident that both teams will go back to the top in time.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Do you have mixed feelings regarding that Schalke didn´t want to afford a Kuranyi any longer, but then replaced you with Raul and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who probably aren´t any cheaper?

Kevin Kuranyi: Well, these decisions have been made and we should look forward. I´m happy with my decision and it seems to me so is the club with it´s decisions. Everyone can be content with the situation. I had open and honest conversations with the club and left amicably. I still appreciate Schalke as I had five very beautiful years there.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Will Felix Magath be able to change tack in time?

Kevin Kuranyi: I´m too far away to be able to judge on that.But everyone knows, that Felix Magath is a top-manager who had brought in great results for many years.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Were you surprised by the course of the Bundesliga season so far? Teams like Mainz, Freiburg and Hannover hold top spots in the table.

Kevin Kuranyi: That came as a surprise to me as well. But I´m very happy for my former manager Mirko Slomka, that his club Hannover 96 is doing so well. He´s a good person and a top-manager. I´m also happy for Thomas Tuchel of Mainz 05 who is a young and modern manager whom I know from my time in Stuttgart.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: And who will win the championship? Is the young Dortmund squad strong enough to stay atop until may?

Kevin Kuranyi: (laughing). Well! I do have a lot of friends playing for Dortmund. But as a former Schalke player I just can´t hope for Dortmund as champions. I don´t have the heart to do that.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Who will win it then?

Kevin Kuranyi: I´m hoping for Mainz. Or Hannover. Or, even better – Schalke will win every matchh from now on and will become champions in the end! The fans deserve it.

Transfermarkt.co.uk: Thank you for the interview and all the best for the future!